Last night, I sent out my Long Distance Dedication to former Senator Fred Thompson since he saw fit to return to New Hampshire.
Today...well, let's just say that Fred is getting press for all the wrong reasons.
Yesterday, in an off-camera exchange with FOX News reporter Carl Cameron, "Fred!" wasn't exactly exuding...confidence in his run for the Presidency.
The source isn't the New York Times or the Washington Post. It's the Daily Telegraph of London who had a reporter on-site at the Bedford Village Inn.
Even Fred Thompson doesn't think he will become president. Chatting off-air to a television reporter, a stunningly candid off-the-cuff quip from the Hollywood actor cemented the impression that his heart is not in the 2008 race.
Trying to encourage his studio to hurry up so an interview could start, Carl Cameron of Fox News said into his microphone: "The next president of the United States has a schedule to keep." Standing beside him, a deadpan Mr Thompson interjected: "And so do I."
As some Thompson aides looked bemused and others cringed, a taken-aback Mr Cameron, Fox's chief political correspondent, exclaimed: "You can't do that kind of stuff!"
The self-deprecating quip said much about the former Tennessee senator's candidacy.
Fred, Fred, Fred... What are you doing?
I've mentioned several times here on the blog that the "book" on Fred Thompson painted him as...well...lazy. With comments like this, it's hard to paint him as committed or even sincere. He's not gaining tremendous ground. He's not lighting up the polls. Hell, Ron Paul is getting more "buzz" than he is. Fred Thompson waited too long to get in and, now, it appears he's going to wait too long to get out.
Can "Fred!" still win this race? Sure...if he actually applies himself and pours it on with these last two months to go before the first contests of the 2008 Primary season. The question now is this: will he?
Does Fred Thompson want the Presidency bad enough to start a political street fight to win the nomination?
Right now, I think the answer is "no" and Fred Thompson isn't going out of his way to prove me wrong.
William Smith
ConservativeBlogger.com
More on "Fred!": Liberty Pundit, Right Wing News
